Many have been awed by student-athletes and professional players who flaunt their versatility at a high level by crossing over to different sports disciplines.
In this modern, digital age though, a new two-sport player may be in the making with the sonic ascent of Esports as a staple in the world of professional sports.
And this early, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals standout Kyle Carlos is eyeing to be one someday through the Collegiate Center for Esports (CCE) – a newly-minted campus Esports league that streams on CALM Network with Alaxan FR, Bio-Agrownica, Rebel Sports Pilipinas, Tagaytay Pura Vida Resort and Hotel, and SMDC Malls as sponsors.
“Personally, aside from basketball. Gusto ko talagang maging Esports player,” said Carlos, who finished in the Final Four of the CCE MLBB 1-on-1 Exhibition Matches last month, the center’s prelude to the main 5-on-5 MLBB Varsity Cup (MVC) event next month.
“Mahal ko yung Esports. Personally, second choice ko siya next to basketball," he added.
One of the biggest attractions today in the sport is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, also known as ML, a game that has already been introduced as an official event in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
It will make a return in the regional meet next year in Hanoi, Vietnam and there have been calls to also include Esports in the Asian Games and the Olympics soon.
Don’t blink now but it could be a full-blown, internationally-recognized discipline soon, paving way for the change in athletes’ mantra in different sports.
We could finally see someone move from “bola” to “MOBA” after all.
“Kung anong kailangan sa basketball, ganun din sa Esports. Kailangang mag-practice, kailangan magpalakas, kailangan magpakundisyon. I-translate mo lang sa online games,” Carlos continued.
“Kahit ano mang sports. Practice ang sikreto. Ngayon, kung gusto mo makapasok naman sa Esports varsity team ng mga school nyo lalo’t may CCE na. Ganun din ang kailangang gawin.”
Fueled by a semis finish in the 1-on-1 exhibition tournament, Carlos seeks to carry over their basketball brilliance to the online arena as he, alongside teammates Jomar Amador, Ralph Vincent Robin, Adrian De Guzman and Christian Angelo Cabuhat look to take home the inaugural Varsity Cup.
If given a chance, he would also love to make it to the official EAC Esports squad when CCE rolls out its regular season-by-season calendar featuring enrolled gaming aspirants in their respective schools.
“Dati pa lang kada after basketball practice, nag-e-ML na kami ng mga teammates ko. ‘Yung ganoong background, madadala namin ngayon sa totong Esports competition. Di naman kailangang manalo basta magkasama-sama lang kami at mai-represent namin yung mga school namin.